TV Tropes Monday: Defector from Decadence

The Defector from Decadence is a character who abandons the dark side not because he has suddenly turned good but because the values of his former compatriots don’t match his own. A writer can use this trope to add both narrative and character depth to the story by exploring two aspects central to the trope:

The Turning Point: The acts or situations that convinced the character to defect. A great way to highlight the villain (or villainous faction) crossing the Moral Event Horizon.

The Reason for the Defection: This highlights the characters world view and personality. What once attracted him to one side of the conflict may now repulse him. He may defect for a variety of reasons from reforming his former comrades to destroying them.

Writer’s should not dismiss the possibilities found within this trope.